Tips for achieving high MPG in 3rd Gen OR?

There are lots of things you can add to a truck to make fuel mileage worse. None that will make it better. At least enough better to offset the cost of the modification. Learn how to drive conservatively, keep the tires inflated, avoid oversize aggressive tires, and keep it tuned up.

 

Well, maybe.

Define high. Or do you just mean higher?

Have you researched the term 'hypermiling'? Those principles apply to your vehicle, although they suck the fun out of driving.

Full candid? Trucks aren't MPG favorable. If max MPG is the goal, another vehicle is the answer.

Yes, fuel costs may soften again, but I'm betting they continue, overall, to stay way higher than we'd like over the life expectancy of a good vehicle like a Tacoma.

 

That’s amazing I have same truck 4x4 never got over 19.1 usually averages 18 70highway/30 city

 

OVtune with the Nexus tune by @Mooseditty17 produces the best results possible for pretty much any driving. Tested this for over 3 years now with 30+ different tunes.

with a 5650lb truck, 32’s, 4.88’s, sliders and bumper with winch I average 17-21mpg highway/street driving

towing 4K lbs I avg 11-12mpg

 

Dang! Stock otherwise? That’s shenanigans. I have skids and sliders (added weight), and I’m pulling about 17 winter 19 summer at minimum.

It’s not prius territory but, 14 seems low.

Do you only drive it in bumper to bumper or something?

 

I have a 2.7 and if I drive it like everyone else, ripping away from red lights only to slam on the brakes a block later, it will get 17-18 MPG around town, and if I match speeds on the interstate and go 85 MPH it will get 20 MPG.

If I coast up to stop signs and red lights/try to time it so that they're green by the time I hit them, don't go over 2500 RPM and stay at 70 MPH or below it will be showing an honest-to-god 25-26 MPG for the trip average by the time I get home (after starting from zero). Basically I try not to use the brakes as much as possible. If I go 60-65 it will average in the upper 20s. This is in a 2.7 4x4 with stock Destination LE tires and a cab-height camper shell but no other heavy add-ons or protrusions like roof racks (which KILL highway MPG).

Unlike in other cars I've had (like our 1.5-liter Yaris), where it doesn't really matter if you get on it briefly when accelerating, doing one full-throttle rip through 1st gear will take a ton of gas and tank the trip average. These things are heavy and it takes a lot of gas to get them rolling quickly, especially if you do it over and over again in stop and go traffic/gridlock.

I have a ScanGauge and watch the gallons per hour number, like in a boat. The difference between gentle acceleration at 2-3 gallons per hour and medium at 4-5 gallons per hour isn't that noticeable once you retrain your foot. Hard acceleration will quickly spike it up to 10 or 15 gallons per hour or more. Sometimes I will give it a little nudge to get up to speed and shift into the next gear but I hardly ever punch it anymore.

 

PREACH PREACH

 

Just as with planes (propeller driven planes especially), it's all about throttle control.
And using the machine to work with the road and not against.

Can't drive Tacos like a dirt bike and expect anything other than humvee gas mileage.

 

Downhill driving only

 

Here is my screen shot from the drive home from work today

 

It really has nothing to do with sweet spot RPM or speed. It’s all about the throttle pressure and if you can keep that fuel mileage bar as close to the 30 for as long as possible.

 

This is the way.

 

2017 TRD Offroad 6sp Manual crew cab 4X4
28 mile each way 5 day commute, lunch or carwash 5 day, church on Wednesday, and twice on Sunday.
Michelin LTX M/S 2, 33 psi cold.
Shift at 3000 1st thru 4th skip 5th to 6th at 67 mph cruise 18 miles, 6 miles interstate same shift pattern to 72 set cruise, then 2 miles thru stoplights at 50.
High full tank avg 20.1 Low full tank avg 19.1
VF tuned
No air-dam
Flat bed cover.
Tools, emergency water, medical/bugout supplies in bed and behind rear seats.
It really is how you drive.

 

It literally has everything to do with those things.

The engine operates more efficiently in certain RPM ranges. That's why you don't improve fuel economy by driving like there's an egg on the gas pedal. You're better off getting it into it's torque band.

And, there's no way you're going to get the same fuel economy at 80 as you will at 60. Wind resistance is a real thing. A steady foot helps, but can't change physics.

 

ok

 

There's definitely a benefit to riding out the momentum from hills, and keeping a steady foot. But, the other things matter, too. Some things will matter more than others, depending where you drive.

 

More tire pressure ... To an extent, so long as you aren't causing undue center wear or too harsh of a ride. Next time yours are worn out, if you don't need an aggressive tread look for something with low rolling resistance.

Speed. Over about 65 the aerodynamic losses start to dominate the answer to "where is the fuel going?"

The brake pedal. When you use it you convert kennetic energy into brake dust and heat. So use the accelerator pedal in such a way that it doesn't force you to use the brake pedal.

 

Lol, I can match that pulling a 4,800lb travel trailer!

 

Due to recent increase in gas price (and for amusement), the wife drove the new 2.7L Tacoma all week in her heavy stop / go commuter traffic routine. She left her 2019 Sequoia in the garage. She has a heavy right foot with her Sequoia averaging 12.5 mpg (and on its 3rd set of front brake pads + rotors in 60K miles). She did better than expected managing 19.9 mpg this week with the Tacoma 4 banger (….. I probably should check the Tacoma brakes ).

 

When i try i get 24 on the highway with a 4x4 . This is accelerating on the down hill and losing momentum on the up hill and not accelerating too aggressively when starting out. This happened on a trip from Georgia to Virgina Elevation change of +2000 feet